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Educational News Digest

November 1994

Nov 3

• Minister of Health opens first psychiatric clinic for children in Gaza for cases referred to it from clinics and schools; funded by World Health Organization (J)

Nov 4

• Re-appointed teachers dismissed during Occupation demand salaries after nearly two months of unpaid employment; stress they left previous jobs after signing contract with MoE which included clause on prohibition of teachers' reliance on other employment or salaries (Q)
• 1300 Gazan students enrolled in West Bank universities and colleges protest against Israeli refusal to grant them West Bank permits (J)

• World Bank official meet with MoE to discuss school renovation and construction (J)

Nov 7

• Ramallah Community College students hold sit-in to protest against government refusal to turn college into university (college graduates cannot continue in universities); MoE stresses it cannot meet demand due to special purposes of Colleges (Q)

Nov 8

• Arafat declares November 15 Palestinian Independence Day, a festive day for schools and universities (Q)

Nov 9

• Arafat announces formation of Palestinian Committee for educational grants and Scholarships to coordinate placement of Palestinians in foreign universities and educational establishments (Q)

Nov 10

• Educational delegation, including English language expert from British Consulate, visits Qalqiliyah educational directorate to discuss English language teaching and look into possibilities of training (Q)

Nov 14

• Dismissed teachers that have returned to their jobs are given loans ranging from US $200-600 (Q)

• Course for teachers of vocational education starts in Jenin (Q)
• Najah University Refugee Committee lecture series addresses effect of UNRWA education on Palestinian identity, mentioning UNRWA's use of host countries' curricula, teachers' efforts through extracurricular activities and lectures, previous Israeli censorship of textbooks and the urgent need for a Palestinian curriculum (Q)

Nov 15

• Schools celebrate Palestinian Independence Day; Radio Israel announces one day closure of Ramallah school for alleged stone throwing at army (Q)

Nov 16

• Children of retired teachers to pay only 50% of school fees (Q)

Nov 17

• Union of Arab UNRWA employees stresses need to increase salaries of employees due to high living costs (Q)

Nov 18

• Israeli authorities raid Nablus bus station and impose checkpoints on all roads to al-Najah University to arrest Gazan students without West Bank permits, which students claim have been refused despite Rabin's promise to the contrary (J)
• US development agency delegation visits Islamic University in Gaza to discuss cooperation in industrial sector (J)
• Union of Palestinian Farmers plans to set up model farm in Gaza for agricultural training (J)
• MoE and UNESCO sign agreement for establishment of Palestinian Curricula Center at MoE in Ramallah (J)
• Majority of West Bank teachers working in Jerusalem are unable to reach schools due to closure (J)
• PNA grants Azhar University in Gaza 1.25 acres for campus expansion; Islamic Waqf agrees to let University five acres to establish agricultural school (J)
• Palestinian artist Jamal Afghani calls for creation of Palestinian arts academy to solve current crisis in the arts (J)
• Previously dismissed teachers re-appointed by the PNA demand salaries (J)

Nov 19

• Min. of Ed inspects private and government schools in Bethlehem district (Q)
• MoE announces that each educational directorate is to have a press spokesman (Q)

Nov 23

• Article says that low salaries are forcing teachers to find second jobs, affecting their teaching (Q)

Nov 24

• Article denounces political party activity in schools as it affects the educational process (Q)

Nov 25

• Refugee Camp Committee and Youth Centers protest against cut-back in UNRWA services (J)
• Report on Palestine Arab Studies Program for foreign students at Bir Zeit University (J)
• Minister states that no permits have been issued to Gazans studying at West Bank institutions (J)
• Expert calls for special training and access to University for the handicapped (J)
• Researcher points out that more than 75% of UNRWA budget is spent on education (J)

Nov 26

• Minister, on visit to schools in Tulkaram area, announces MoE plans for salary increases, teacher training, establishment of a community solidarity foundation, and the building of new schools (Q)

Nov 27

• Israeli army sets up checkpoints on all roads to Arab Orphan Industrial Secondary school on the outskirts of Jerusalem and arrests 28 16 year-old students for not having Jerusalem permits, transports them to prison and interrogates them (Q)

Nov 28

• Article calls for teachers to use friendliness, interest, and respect instead of embarrassment, threats and violence to create an optimal leaning environment and encourage free self-expression (Q)
• Article calls for support to General Union of Palestinian Teachers on the condition that it be professional, independent and democratically elected (Q)

Nov 29

• Israeli soldiers arrest 24 Gazan students of Bir Zeit University in violent early morning raids on student apartments. PNA suggestion to transport Gazan students in army escorted, locked buses to West Bank refused by Israelis (J)

Nov 30

• Arab Orphan School and Umma College teachers meet with Min. of Ed on salary dispute (Q)

Elaine Clark

Educational Network, POB 66, Ramallah, West Bank

tel: 02 995 6230/fax: 02 995 6231 e-mail: eclark@ednet.birzeit.edu